FIRST RIPE FRUIT
INTRODUCTION: THE PROPHET MICAH PROPHESIED IN THE EIGHTH CENTURY B.C. HE ADDRESSED THE DECADENT SINS OF ISRAEL, THE NORTHERN KINGDOM AND JUDAH, THE SOUTHERN KINGDOM.
INTERPRETATION: MICAH 7:1 (NKJV) WOE IS ME! FOR I AM LIKE THOSE WHO GATHER SUMMER FRUITS, LIKE THOSE WHO GLEAN VINTAGE GRAPES; THERE IS NO CLUSTER TO EAT OF THE FIRST-RIPE FRUIT WHICH MY SOUL DESIRES.
MICAH 7: 2-6 DESCRIBES THE DEPLORABLE, MORAL CONDITIONS.
THE LORD PRONOUNCED JUDGMENT OVER SIN. THE NORMS OF SOCIETY HAD COMPLETELY DEGENERATED. REVENGE AND DESTRUCTION WERE THE NORM. SADLY, MICAH SAW NO FRESH-RIPE FRUIT.
QUOTE BY WARREN WIERSBE, (LOOKING FOR GODLY PEOPLE WAS LIKE LOOKING FOR SUMMER FRUIT AFTER THE HARVEST).
DOES MICAH’S COMMENTS READ LIKE TODAY’S TELEVISION OR NEWSPAPER REPORTS?
ISRAEL COULD HAVE PRODUCED QUALITY FRUIT BUT THEY DID NOT! EVEN SO, GOD GAVE HOPE IN HIS COVENANT PROMISES IN MICAH 7: 18-20)
TRUE WORSHIP PRODUCES TRUE RIPE FRUIT: RELIGIOUS RITUAL PRODUCES NOTHING!
APPLICATION: THE LORD IS PLEASED TO SEE SWEET, BEAUTIFUL, AROMATIC FIRST RIPE FRUIT IN BELIEVERS.
